Allibear, I can relate.
I was at the end of a 3-day fast when I was attacked viciously yesterday in body, mind, and spirit. As difficult as it was for me to take my own advice last night, I declare that we have to keep standing. Keep praying. The devil attacks the hardest when he knows his time is short; he knows that your miracle/breakthrough are coming soon! Our faith in God's authority & power will drive evil away. Keep God's word in your heart, rebuke the enemy, and expect your victory to happen!
Please read a blog I posted below. I wrote it to inspire so the next time I am knocked down, I will be more prepared to fight! I hope it helps you too.
I am praying for you and for all standers. Amen.
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Darkness before Dawn
From a sermon:
The devil often tries to block a breakthrough by sending a violent storm beforehand. It is a preemptive strike against you. His strategy is to hit hardest before the miracle. He wants to make your situation feel hopeless, impossible, and backward; he wants to make you tired and weary so you give up. He wants to make you believe it's not worth it to keep praying & waiting on God... He wants you to become frustrated & surrender when you are on the verge of your victory.
Let's examine Mark 4, as Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee… On the other side was a man in need of deliverance. The man was filled with a Legion of demons (Mark 5:1-20). This man was very important to the devil. Why? Because he filled the community with terror. The community was held hostage by this demon-possessed man. The devil knew that if Jesus crossed the sea that night, He would set the man free and the devil would lose his prize possession. Jesus and His disciples did not expect the storm that night. It was a storm of wind, not rain. The force of it was as a hurricane, or a fierce squall… it was very overpowering. Here was Jesus on the brink of doing a miracle, and the devil was out to block Him. This storm was no accident… The devil was sending a preemptive strike. But Jesus exercised His authority, rebuked the wind, and there was a great calm.
...This is all happening to me right now. Yesterday was filled with heartache, insinuations, accusations, and then a physical attack. I discovered some hurtful & heartbreaking information in the afternoon, and as I was suffering from that crisis, an accident struck me, leaving me immobile & severely injured in my hand. Perhaps it is the ministry I've been doing, the prayer, the fasting, and the spiritual warfare -- all the things I've done in God's glory that has threatened satan. So, he sent an onslaught against me last night, and I was brought down in physical & emotional agony... I felt weary & defeated. It was truly a battlefield.
I suddenly cried out to God, and he gave me peace. I asked Him to keep me from breaking, and surrendered to God's will. I fell asleep speaking His Word and in desperate prayer. He let me sleep soundly, and I felt rested when I woke in the morning.
I claim His Word & stand on His Promises right now:
- “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.†(James 4:10a)
- “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6).
- "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?" (Numbers 23:19).
My battle is not yet over, but I know God will keep fighting for me. When you are faithless, He is faithful. I am leaning on God to bring me through the storm across the finish line. In Jesus' name, I claim my miracle on the other side & victory in His glory!
